Answering 4th graders.

4th graders from Prem international school. Little guys with big questions.

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-3

Today a class of 4th grade students from Prem International school (http://ptis.threegeneration.org) came to
visit us. They are learning about world religions. Associate Pastor Sirikanya and I hosted them in the church prayer room. They had lots of questions. Some were very interesting such as;


Student: "When was God born?"
Me: "Well no one knows, but we trust that he was born before the beginning"

Student "Was God created by the Big Bang?"
Me: "Umm...Actually I think he was the one who created the Big Bang?"

Student: "Where is heaven?"
Me: "Some where good, which no one actually knows. If i went there i would try to come back and tell you"

Student: "Why did God have to choose Jesus to come and Die?"
Me: "Jesus is his son, yeah i know it is a little hard to understand that"

Student: "Why is it the cross?"
Me: "It was used to kill people who were not Roman citizen at that time"

They were a lot more questions, some were very amazing. But I found it very hard to clearly explain how i really felt about Jesus. How much God love us sinners, how much God had to sacrifice and how much pain Jesus had endure to them. It really makes me think that i should be more involve in Sunday school.

Well at least to learn more how to communicate with these cute little fellows.:)

Funeral service

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.-2 Corinthians 5:6-8 

Today i had the join the pastor team to pick up a body at the hospital and to the church to do the ceremony.

To be honest i have very few experience about funerals and only twice in my life that i intend the ceremony at the morgue.

I was shaken a bit (well a lot actually). This is really like a call check for me. Since this is one of the pastor's duties.

I once asked my Myanmar friend John "Have you ever carried a corpse?" His replied "Well all the time friend"
Hopefully if it is God's will i might get use to it someday.

Also i learned that there are a bunch of things that a pastor have to ask the host.

Accumulations;
The Cross - Do they need an extra cross in front of the coffin?
Cover cloth - Also for the coffin
Do they need a money box for offering and a lock?
What do they want to put on the service left let?

Time schedule;
When will the night service start? (In Thailand we do night services normally starting from 07.30 pm to 08:00 pm)
When will they finish on the last day? We normally have a final service during noon at the church on the last day then we will move the body to the crematory.

Host treat;
Normally the host will provide a snack after the night service but on the last day noon service it is an option to provide lunch or not?

Crematory;
Which crematory they choose?
What do they want to do with the bones? Some keep some release in water.

Man power;
Do they need the church musician?
Do they need church volunteer to lift the coffin?

Musicians
Who will provide the truck on the final day
Who will lift the coffin?